Whats Normal?...what Do You Expect?

[J35J]

I've fished for a lot of years but never fished all that frequently or seriously until about a year ago now. What size of LMB is normal for most of you when you go out? If you don't catch a fish that is "X" many pounds would it be a disappointing day?

We seem to catch the 1-2 pounders fairly frequently, the 3-4 pounders would be a good day and rarely if ever really catch much over that size. I realize the lakes we fish in may just not be super stocked on the larger fish but I'm curious if the 2-3 pounders are pretty normal and what is expected or if people are landing the 4-5 pounders pretty frequently and the 2 pounders are just ho-hum, no big deal.

Look forward to the responses.

Thanks!

[tomustang]

Where i fish, the most frequent is 1.5 to 2.5lb range

[shimmy]

100 % depends on the lake. I think your question is better suited for people that fish your particular lakes. Find out from them. Otherwise you will hear discouraging remarks from people that have access to big bass waters.

[J35J]

Yup, and that's what I figured would be the case. I understand there are some lakes just busting out with monster fish but that's not a typical lake. Figured if there were enough replies you'd get a good idea of what people are catching and then also if they mentioned that their lake is known to continually produce big bass then you can take that into account as well.

I don't know that the lakes I fish really contain a bunch of big fish...sure they are there but I don't think it's common to continually pull out 5-6 pounders with regularity.

I guess if I phrase the question like this....if you were fishing for 3-4 hours and caught 4-5 fish all in the 1.5-2.5 lb range would that be a good day for most of you...understood that if you have golden lakes where the big fish just jump in your boat, that's not what I'm looking for. Just your average joe fisherman at an average joe lake...what are the expectations.

[Daddyodo]

Where i fish, the most frequent is 1.5 to 2.5lb range

X2

[AK-Jax86]

I enjoy catching anything over 2 pounds. Also you have to think that the bigger ones might not bite or be as active because that is how they got so big by being weary of unnatural things. You throw some live bait fish on a hook guarentee you will lure out those bigger ones, but obviously you will get the smaller ones as well.

In my backyard pond I was consistantly catching ones that were between 3-5 seemed like every other cast, early summer. So figured that was the norm until I saw one 1 foot offshore that was easily double digits at first glance I thought it was a carp then realized it was a bass, I still have not caught it or even seen it.

[hooah212002]

100 % depends on the lake. I think your question is better suited for people that fish your particular lakes. Find out from them. Otherwise you will hear discouraging remarks from people that have access to big bass waters.

It also depends on what part of the country you are in as well. There are more big bass down south than there are up in the northern part of the country. 4-5 pounds is a good size fish here, but is probably average down south (at least in decent bass lakes, anyways). Forget about Florida: average for them is probably 15 pounds lol.

[00 mod]

I guess if I phrase the question like this....if you were fishing for 3-4 hours and caught 4-5 fish all in the 1.5-2.5 lb range would that be a good day for most of you...understood that if you have golden lakes where the big fish just jump in your boat, that's not what I'm looking for. Just your average joe fisherman at an average joe lake...what are the expectations.

More than 1 fish an hour this time of the year is good. There are certain times when that would be outstanding, and others when that would be slow.

Jeff

[J35J]

Pretty much what I was expecting to see...just like to see comfirmation that my 2 pounders aren't just every day chump change and are for the most part fairly standard size that most will catch.

Thanks for the replies so far and if anyone wants to add anything further, feel free!

[GeorgiaBassBros]

3-4 lbers are pretty normal but it seems like theres a 7+ in every lake i fish that i see spawning every spring.

[TNBassin']

1-2lbers are the norm here in East TN. Anything over 2 is like Christmas morning.

[roadwarrior]

Well, we have quite a few members here in the Memphis area that fish the same ponds,

so I hope they chime in. Our average is more like 5-6 lbs, but we don't usually catch

"numbers". My big fish at Grove is 10-4, but we catch a lot of 8 to 9 lb bass. This year

I think 9-14 is the "Big Fish" so far.

On the Tennessee River, big tournaments require 25+ to get into the money in the

spring. Smaller clubs, 15-20. 5-6 lbs is pretty common, but not "average". The guys

that fish for smallmouth with me only count 5+. My best brown fish day (numbers) was

15 with 8 over 5. The fish in my avatar were caught the following Saturday.

[K_Mac]

100 % depends on the lake. I think your question is better suited for people that fish your particular lakes. Find out from them. Otherwise you will hear discouraging remarks from people that have access to big bass waters.

On any lake a 2# bass is a nice fish in my world. I fish one lake where 1-3# fish are pretty common, and most trips I expect to catch at least one in the 3.5-5# range. A 6-7# fish is not too unusual. This is a limited horsepower lake with a 14-18" slot, so there are very good numbers of breeding fish. No other public lakes in the area produce these kinds of expectations for me. I fish some private strip pits that also produce good numbers and size. Most of my fishing trips I am fishing at or before first light and get off the water with just enough light left to secure things for the ride home. And yes, I would consider a 3-4 hour fishing trip with 4-5 in the 1.5-2.5 range a good day of fishing.

I used to be sick when my numbers and sizes didn't compare well with other guys. As I've gotten older, and maybe a little wiser , I don't care near as much. What is funny about that is now that it is not so important, I usually can hold my own with the rest of the boys. Experience and knowing the water do make a difference ...keep up the good work and have fun!

[CoBass]

As mentioned above, depends on where you live. Around here (Colorado), 1.5 - 3 pounders are the norm. Anything over 5 is considered big and double digits are very rare. Our state record is 11-6 and it's been on the books for 15 years. Northern strain + a short growing season isn't a great recipe for growing trophy sized bass.

[Bluebasser86]

Depends on the lake. Some of them around here if I don't get one over 4 I'm pretty disappointed. Others if I get one over 15" I'm excited and happy to have them

[Tuckahoe Joe]

everything ive seen come out of my lake so far has been been about 1.5 - 2 ponds. seen a couple probably a little closer to 3lbs but its not a real big lake (only 20 acres and about 5-7 ft deep). thinking i might try some new spots if i get a day or 2 off of work.

[The Rooster]

Man I'm glad it isn't just me after reading all this. I've fished for 16 years and never caught anything over 3 pounds, and that was just once, the fish in my avatar. All the others were 1-2 pounds with plenty of dinks mixed in there too.

[QUAKEnSHAKE]

In this thread here

http://www.bassresource.com/bass-fishing-forums/topic/106990-a-few-catches-with-ltb-mlxf/

I have a few pics of the avg fish I catch. In my 3rd post is a pic of a 2#2oz bass that is my second largest of the year so 14"-15" avg and 16+ very excited about. I havent been skunked in 7-8 years so always expect to catch something.

[greyleg33]

I have no experience in your area (KC) but from what i've heard 1 to 3# fish and occasionally larger should be about normal.

[Scorcher214]

Catching a couple bass around 1.5lb-2lbs...good day to me.

[Sam]

J35J, you are actually asking the guys on the Forum what is normal like we are "normal" people?????

In response to your query, the average size bass caught is different within the various geographical areas of the world.

In Louisiana, California, Texas and Florida catching three and four pound beauties is normal. Above the Mason-Dixon Line catching two and three pound bass is normal.

In Virginia rivers and lakes two to three pound bass are normal. We aslo catch many dinks and smaller bass around 12 to 13 inches.

The Chickhominy River was stocked with Florida Strain bass and these big bass have flourished so they are now in the Chick, Appomattox and James Rivers. Hit the Mattaponi River and if you can put five 12-inchers in the well you have done great.

So what is "normal" to your area is what you will catch most of the time with that one big lady just sitting there watching your baits go by and laughing at you. This is why we go crazy when we catch a big one anywhere. Big ones are "out of the normal."

[Bankbeater]

It depends on the body of water I am fishing. I am not going to get mad if I can't catch a 5 lb bass in a lake that I know is full of dinks. However, as a rule of thumb when I go out I am happy if I can catch one and not get skunked.

[J35J]

Thanks for the replies everyone!